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Meanwhile, Tsvangirai’s MDC says preparations for a public march on June 25th to express their views on the deteriorating economic situation are in top gear in manicaland province.

Meanwhile, Tsvangirai’s MDC says preparations for a public march on June 25th to express their views on the deteriorating economic situation are in top gear in Manicaland province.

The MDC-T’s Manicaland provincial spokesperson and Mutasa Central Member of the National Assembly, Trevor Saruwaka, told Studio 7 that at least 10,000 people are expected to participate in the public protest.

“I would like to advice Zimbabweans at large and the people of Manicaland in particular that preparations are indeed in full steam for our demonstration on Saturday 25 June where we are going to march from Sakubva Beit Hall in Mutare towards Musika weHuku on our way to Meikles Park where we are going to be addressed by the party’s top leadership. We are expecting a very big turn out on the protest march.”

Saruwaka said they are not happy with the central bank’s proposal to introduce bond notes, rising unemployment, current cash shortages and the disappearance of $15 billion in diamond revenues in Manicaland province, among many other issues.

“I think the livelihoods of ordinary citizens has deteriorated and we want to say it loudly that we are now tired of this suffering. There are specific issues that we are protesting over. You are aware that (President) Robert Mugabe doesn’t know the whereabouts of $15 billion from Chiadzwa diamond fields … and that money was first and foremost going to help the people of Manicaland ...”

Political analyst James Mupfumi of the Centre for Research and Development, said demonstrations against President Mugabe’s government could be useful now in this inflammatory economic environment where there is now a convergence of thoughts among all stakeholders towards social, economic and political change.

Another observer and former liberation war veteran, Irwine Mbengo, said Zimbabwean citizens have a democratic right to participate in public demonstrations and therefore MDC-T activists are doing the proper thing in engaging in public protests.